Weather ~ Picture of the Day ~ Mountain Bluebirds ~ 10 Minute Chicken Skillet ~ Suzanne Santisteven ~ National Wine Day (YIPPEEE)

 

Good 48º cloudy morning.

 

Yesterday we started off cloudy with a prediction for 40% chance of rain... we never got the rain and we topped at 78º.

 

And then..... soon it looked like this...

Picture of the Day....

 

 

 

Interesting about Mountain Bluebirds....

 

The mountain bluebird (Sialia currucoides) is a small migratory thrush that is found in mountainous districts of western North America. It has a light underbelly and black eyes. Adult males have thin bills and are bright turquoise-blue and somewhat lighter underneath. Adult females have duller blue wings and tail, grey breast, grey crown, throat and back. In fresh fall plumage, the female's throat and breast are tinged with red-orange, brownish near the flank contrasting with white tail underparts. Their call is a thin 'few'; while their song is warbled high 'chur chur'. It is the state bird of Idaho and Nevada. It is an omnivore and it can live 6 to 10 years in the wild. It eats spiders, grasshoppers, flies and other insects, and small fruits. The mountain bluebird is a relative of the eastern and western bluebirds.

The mountain bluebird is 6.1–7.1 inches in length, weighs 0.85–1.31 oz, and has a wingspan of 11.0-14.2 in. It is sexually dimorphic in the color of the plumage but the sexes are similar in size. An adult male is bright turquoise-blue above and somewhat lighter blue underneath but with a white lower belly. An adult female has duller blue wings and tail, grey breast, grey crown, throat and back. In fresh fall plumage, the female's throat and breast are brownish near the flank contrasting with white tail underparts. Their call is a thin 'few'; while their song is warbled high 'chur chur'.

 

Their breeding habitat is open country across western North America, including mountainous areas, as far north as Alaska. Although mountain bluebirds can be found in some states year-round, their range is expansive -- they generally migrate south to Mexico in the winter and north into western Canada and even Alaska in the summer. Depending on the time of year, they may be ubiquitous in mountain environments like grasslands or landscapes of sagebrush, where trees and shrubs are fairly spread out.

 

Mountain bluebirds are cavity nesters and can become very partial to a nest box, especially if they have successfully raised a clutch. They may even reuse the same nest, though not always. These birds will not abandon a nest if human activity is detected close by or at the nest. Because of this, they can be easily banded while they are still in the nest. The threats of predation for those that dwell in nesting boxes are mostly from house cats, raccoons, and the parasitic blowfly.

 

The mountain bluebird is the state bird of Idaho and Nevada. More generally, the bluebird has lived in writers’ and poets’ imaginations as age-old bearers of joy and reverie.

 

Mountain bluebirds are fairly common, but populations declined by about 26% between 1966 and 2014, according to the North American Breeding Bird Survey. Partners in Flight estimates the global breeding population of 4.6 million, with 80% spending some part of the year in the U.S., 20% breeding in Canada, and 31% wintering in Mexico.

 

 

 

 

From Mr. Food

 

In salute of National Frozen Food Month, there’s no better time to explore all that the freezer aisle has to offer. Plus with all the sales this month and so many new products, make sure you plan on spending a few extra minutes and we bet you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how inspired you’ll be. We did, and look what we came up with…and yes, it’s ready in 10 minutes.

 

• 1 cup teriyaki sauce
• 1 (22-ounce) package frozen grilled chicken strips, thawed
• 1 (10.8-ounce) package frozen Polynesian-style vegetables, thawed
• 1/2 (16-ounce) bag frozen pineapple chunks, thawed
• 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
• 2 scallions, sliced
• 1 (10-ounce) package frozen cauliflower rice

 

1. In a large skillet over medium-low heat, heat teriyaki sauce, chicken, Polynesian-style vegetables, pineapple, and sesame seeds for 6 to 8 minutes or until warmed through. Stir in scallions.
2. Meanwhile, in a medium microwave-safe bowl, heat cauliflower rice 4 to 5 minutes or until hot. Serve chicken mixture over cauliflower rice and enjoy.

 

 

***Did you know you can enjoy cauliflower rice as a carb-free alternative to rice. And since it’s available in the freezer aisle, it’s super convenient and budget friendly.

 

 

Special birthday today.... Suzanne Santisteven (LASD ret and wife of the infamous Phil (LASD ret)  is celebrating.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUZ!!

 

 

Historically this date.....

1935 – Jesse Owens of Ohio State University breaks three world records and ties a fourth at the Big Ten Conference Track and Field Championships in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

1961 – Apollo program: U.S. President John F. Kennedy announces before a special joint session of the Congress his goal to initiate a project to put a "man on the Moon" before the end of the decade.

1977 – Star Wars (retitled Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope in 1981) is released in theaters, inspiring the Jediism religion and Geek Pride Day holiday.

... .this was Jerry's all time favorite movie. We went to the El Monte Drive-in at least 7 times to see it!

1979 – Six-year-old Etan Patz disappears from the street just two blocks away from his New York City home, prompting an international search for the child, and causing U.S. President Ronald Reagan to designate May 25th as National Missing Children's Day (in 1983).

the first missing child to be on a milk carton.........

2011 – Oprah Winfrey airs her last show, ending her twenty five year run of The Oprah Winfrey Show. 

 

 

 

And births this date.....

1925 – Jeanne Crain, American actress (d. 2003)

(57 years married, 7 children with the same man!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

1939 – Dixie Carter, American actress (d. 2010)

 

1947 – Karen Valentine, American actress

 

1963 – Mike Myers, Canadian actor and comedian

 

1969 – Anne Heche, American actress

 

 

 

All I know. Nuff said. Have a good Tuesday. Ciao.

xo Sue Mom Bobo 

On May 25th each year, wine lovers everywhere pour a glass of their favorite wine to celebrate National Wine Day.

Made from fermented grapes or other fruits, wine is an alcoholic beverage. During the fermentation processes, yeast consumes the sugars in the grapes converting it into alcohol.  Different grapes produce different wines.  Winemakers will combine different wines to create more complex flavors.  Wines made from fruit or honey are often named according to the variety of fruit used.

Red wine varietals produce deep ruby reds as well as subtle ambers and browns. Their beautiful colors hint at the coming change in the season. With that, we can look for delicious menu changes, too. Besides, what better way to enjoy a great bottle of wine than by pairing it with excellent company and food.

Winemakers produce white wines from grapes with light yellow-green skins or light red skins. However, it’s not the color of the grapes that give the wine its color. It’s the tannins in the grape skins that color wine red and also the flavor. White wines are generally sweeter than red wines and are best served chilled. Most red wines are served at room temperature. However, a sweet red should also be chilled for the best flavor.

HOW TO OBSERVE

Reminisce with family and friends over a glass of wine.  Enjoy wine with a favorite meal.